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The usually happy atmosphere in dorm 16 had turned somber. It was Ashley's last night with Aiden and Spencer. Tomorrow her mom would be arriving bright and early to bring her back home. The trio was sitting on the floor, Spencer curled up against Ashley's side and Aiden sprawled out next to them. A box of pizza sat in front of them. They were watching Step Up, though their minds were anywhere but in that dorm room.

"This sucks." Aiden was the first to bring it up, breaking through the gloomy silence. He tossed his slice of pizza in the box angrily. "They can't just force you to go."

Tightening her hold on Spencer, who lifted her head to give her a soft kiss on the cheek, Ashley didn't answer right away. She had been avoiding this conversation all day. There was nothing she could do. Without her parents she couldn't afford school or her car. She would barely be able to afford a bus ticket.

"Hey," Spencer started, cupping her distraught girlfriend's face gently forcing her to look at her. "It's going to be okay. I promise."

She tried smiling, but Ashley couldn't muster the energy. "Aren't you the one who said never make promises you can't keep?"

Spencer pushed away from her, moving to whisper something in Aiden's ear. He nodded and rose to his feet. "I'll come by before you leave." He bent down to give her a kiss on the forehead before he left.

"Bye Aid." Ashley said softly. She didn't wipe at the tears forming in her eyes, not wanting Spencer to see. "You didn't have to send him away."

"I know." Spencer held her hands out for Ashley to take. "Come lay with me."

"But the movie's still on." Ashley protested, climbing into bed beside her girlfriend. Spencer shifted so that she was on top of Ashley.

All wit failed her as she stared up at Spencer. It wasn't just school she would be leaving tomorrow, she would be leaving behind Spencer too. It was that thought that pushed her tears over the edge. The last six months had been like a dream. She hadn't known it was possible to love someone this much.

"Are you crying?"

Ashley looked away. "No."

"Aw you have sad Ashley voice." Spencer half heartedly smiled. "You don't have to lie to me Ash."

She dropped her forehead to Ashley's. "Talk to me."

"I'm just going to miss you is all. The rest I can handle." Ashley confessed.

"We're going to be okay." Spencer said, kissing each of Ashley's cheek. "Have I ever lied to you?"

Spencer moved to her neck, leaving a trail of gentle sweet kisses as she went. Ashley couldn't stop a smile from forming. It was the moments like this she would miss the most.

"First time for everything, right?"

"Shut up Ashley." Spencer chuckled, cutting off any more argument with a kiss. "Let's just enjoy tonight."

"I can do that." Ashley smiled despite herself.

"Ashley?"

"Ash?"

Someone kicked her under the table, snapping Ashley out the daydream. She hadn't realized she had zoned out on everyone at the dinner. Ashley hadn't thought so much about the past in awhile. That had been her last dinner with Aiden and Spencer and tonight was her first dinner with Spencer and Aiden again. "Sorry. What?"

"Welcome back." Aiden grinned. "I was just asking what you're doing tomorrow."

"Oh." Ashley forced a smile, looking up from her plate of pasta. "I'm heading to Petco. I need to pick up some new toys for Jack."

"Jack's with you?" Spencer cut in, talking for the first time since dinner started. The last time she'd seen Jack he was still a puppy. He had been both of the girls' little baby.

Ashley's smile turned real. "Yeah he is. Well not yet. I had to put him in a kennel until we got the place finished. I was going pick him up tomorrow after Petco."

"He still crazy?"

"That's an understatement," laughed Kristina.

"I've missed him." Spencer admitted, looking at Ashley. What she really missed was Ashley.

Ashley's smile faltered. I missed you. "He's missed you too."

Aiden and Kristina watched the exchange curiously for a moment before steering the conversation away from Jack. "That sounds like fun. Still chasing the medical dream?"

"Even better. Next Monday I start my first day as an official med student. I'm excited." Kristina answered giddily.

"And the nerd resurfaces."

"Shut up Ashley." Kristina laughed, taking a sip of sprite.

"So what are you doing Ashley? Or are you still chasing the professional student dream?" Aiden asked.

Ashley grinned, relaxing a bit, even though she could feel the probing eyes of Spencer on her. Spencer knew as little about her life now as Ashley knew about hers. "Good times dude. But unfortunately, my life has taken a much lamer turn as the new seventh grade history teacher at South Rand Elementary."

"Ha you're not kidding." Aiden agreed. He finished the last few bites of his food shaking his head.

Spencer remained quiet. She remembered the days Ashley would talk about being a teacher. Ashley's role model growing up had been her seventh grade history teacher. Ever since then Ashley's goal had been to follow in the lady's footsteps. Spencer was happy Ashley had finally made it.

On that note Ashley stood up grabbing her empty plate and drink to go dump in the sink. She had made it through dinner after all. She was rinsing out her plate when Spencer appeared behind her.

"Hey I'm sorry about earlier Ashley."

"Forget about it alright." Ashley said, turning off the sink. "I overreacted."

"Right." Spencer responded.

"Yea."

The awkwardness crept up on them fast.

"So.." Realizing she didn't really know what to say, Ashley fell silent.

"Um..so you're picking up Jack tomorrow, huh?" Spencer was grasping at straws now.

"Sure am."

"Can…can I go with you?" Spencer asked hesitantly. I really need to think things through before asking, she thought silently. Her face was turning red from embarrassment. "I mean, if that's, you know, not to weird or anything."

"Not weird." Ashley said quickly. She coughed, recovering from her blunder. "I mean Jack's going to be thrilled to see you again."

"Spence, you ready to go?"

They both turned to see Aiden digging in his pocket for his keys. Spencer turned back to Ashley. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yea. Tomorrow." Ashley nodded, heading back to the dining room to tell Aiden goodbye.

"I'll only leave though on one condition." He said as they walked to the door.

"No we don't have any cookies to give you." Ashley grinned teasingly.

"Funny. But I'm thinking more along the lines of not letting this be the last time I see you again."

"I'll do my best." She laughed, opening the door for him to go. He stepped in the hallway turning back to wait for Spencer, who was hugging Kristina goodbye.

She paused beside Ashley on her way out. Aiden looked away.

"Thank you Ash for inviting me." Spencer smiled gently; letting her hand rest on top Ashley's folded arms.

Ashley could already feel the warmth spreading through her arm from the beautiful blonde's light touch. Her fingers itched to wrap themselves around Spencer's.

"It was nice." Ashley nodded, unfolding her arms. She took a step back, the warmth fading.

"Call me when you're ready to go tomorrow." Spencer said walking out. Ashley shut the door behind her. When she turned around Kristina was right behind her, rocking back and forth on her heels happily.

"What?"

"Oh nothing." Kristina sing songed still grinning.

"You're weird." Ashley gave her a funny look and walked off.

"Just seems to me a certain two people seem to be picking off where they left off." Kristina followed her to her room.

"Down girl. She has a girlfriend." Ashley laughed, shaking her head.

"The thought's crossed your mind though hasn't it?"

"Out." Ashley pointed to the doorway. "Now."

"Alright. But you're so going to be thanking me for this dinner later." She called over her shoulder as she left, shutting the door behind her.

As soon as the door was shut Ashley collapsed onto her bed with a heavy sigh, her smile gone. Tomorrow she would be spending the day with Spencer. Alone.

God help me, she thought. Because she was going to milk tomorrow for all it was worth.

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